Today I am grateful to be home.

I had a wonderful weekend up in Austin spending time with family. My little cousin Emily is a bundle of energy who kept me on my toes all weekend! The time was overall relaxing. It was a nice step away from work, blogging, the internet world, and everything else. I even started reading again! I spent a lot of time in the pool, dodging nerf gun bullets, and watching my brother and cousin play video games. I even took a trip to IKEA. That place never get's old. I often wonder if I could live there without being caught. I wish I could have stayed in Austin longer. After that four hour drive back home, I am glad to be able to sleep in my own bed and see my dad (he didn't go).

Home sweet home.
Carli

Record Tuesday: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Child by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Child is my favorite song from the record, but Man On Fire comes in a pretty close second.

Last week my bestie Andy was in town and gave me the new Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (ESMZ) record. I am a big fan of this record and their first "Up From Bellow". I think every one is familiar with their song "Home". Last summer I had the chance to see them in concert at a park in Salt Lake for FREE! They are incredible live! Alex (pictured above) looked pretty similar to a hobo might look. My friends were upset by that, but I didn't care. He sounded amazing! Since the concert was outside we sat on a blanket on the grass and just listened. I kinda felt like I was at Woodstock, but not really... You know how when your at concerts and it's really crowded and your tired of standing but you still really want to see the concert? And you wish that there was a way for you to sit on a bench that floats above the crowd and right in front of the band? The perfect seat. Well  at the concert there was this tree in the middle of the crowd and a guy climbed up the tree and sat there and had the perfect seat! Alex would point to him and basically serenade this one guy in a tree! I was incredibly jealous.

Here are a few pictures from that concert. 

You can kinda see Alex's crazy hair in this last photo. 

Carli

Last Sunday in Utah.

I cannot believe that I am moving back to Texas tomorrow. My dad is currently on a flight into Salt Lake and we are going to embark on an adventure into the mountains soon after he lands. The past couple of days have been busy busy. I have been trying to spend time with all of my friends and pack my billion pounds of stuff that I have accumulated over the past year. Seriously. I had no idea how much stuff I really had until I pulled it all out and put it into the middle of the floor. The following picture illustrates not even all of my craft stuff. Good news is that I only have a tiny bit more packing to do later tonight.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. Courtney, Ben, Kaitlyn, and I went to the park to enjoy the weather even though I still had a ton of packing to do. Since it was Earth Day we thought it would be nice to spend at least a little bit of time outside.

If you don't really hear from me in the next couple days, it is because I am driving a 24 hour drive back to Texas. Don't worry! I haven't forgotten about you! My dad and I will be making some stops along the way to explore the "in between". So expect some pictures soon! The "in between" is a term that I coined for meaning all the little places that you wouldn't ordinarily travel to, but are significant enough to stop at them on the way to your destination. Traveling is so much more fun when you stop and discover.

Carli

Christmas In Texas.

Besides being deathly ill and going to the emergency room… I had a glorious time in Texas. The weather was perfect, it was good to be back at home with my family, and of course Christmas was wonderful. I do apologize… I didn’t take very many pictures. I was a little preoccupied I suppose. I’m truly annoyed with myself for that. I haven’t been doing hardly any photography or guitar playing lately. Where are my priorities?

The following are some of the shots I did get.

Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake at Hester. Lunch with mommy.

Unsuccessful shot of the Christmas tree. I thought it looked pretty cool though.

Bokeh shot. I made my brother make me a bokeh for my camera. 

Unsuccessful bokeh shot. Christmas dinner centerpiece.

Christmas present from Dad. Is it not completely fantastic?! P.S. most of the pictures I took in Tejas were taken with my Holga. I am still trying to finish the roll of film. Pictures to come soon. I promise.

Old truck that has become a permanent fixation in the ground at our Ranch. This truck got me into photography. It is so beautiful.

Texas horizon.

Bonfire at the ranch.

A bonfire is not a bonfire without fireworks… It is so true.

Christmas was great. No snow. No cold. Just warmth & sunshine & family & good food.

Thats the way it’s supposed to be.

Carli

P.S. Don’t know what  bokeh is? Or want one of your own?! Find a tutorial HERE.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas- She & Him

I can’t believe I forgot about Record Tuesday… I am so sorry. 

It is good to be home for Christmas.

Carli

Too Long.

Last night when I got home from work I noticed my lonely little camera bag sitting in a far corner of the room & inside that lonely little camera bag was an even lonelier camera that has not had the opportunity to snap a photograph in far too long. I then ran to that far corner grabbed that lonely bag pulled out that lonelier camera and beheld it in my capable hands and said “I am sorry for paying no attention to you. Will you forgive me?” If that lonelier little camera could talk he would say “Take a picture and I will forgive you.” 

That is exactly what I did. Since it was cold outside and I rarely like to venture up the stairs and into the cold, I settled for taking pictures of my home…

Can we just take a moment to admire these lovely plates and bowls that I found at the DI for way cheap. I love that they are modern with a touch of vintage.

Can we also take a moment to admire the lovely Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup print? This is another of my most prized thrifted items.

Feist Metals poster.

Before Courtney’s wedding I decided to make her a felt flower bouquet… Saying that it didn’t work out is an understatement. It killed me to know how much time was wasted making those and they weren’t even used. So I made a garland. :) 

Dwight. Gift from Whitney.

I just love getting notes from my roomy on big test days.

I honestly need to start taking more pictures again…

Happy Wednesday!

Carli

Texas

I know that I am extremely late with this post. Ok I just a week late, but that is late, because I have since forgotten many things that I planned on saying about my trip to Texas. Here are a few pictures to illustrate the time I spent at home.

 Izzy & I

 Alamo

 Mom & Dad

 Hard Rock.

Although I live in Utah… Texas will always be my home.

I had a wonderful time, being with my family and friends. I enjoyed the Texas sky and sunshine, the warm air, the familiarity, and the many people that make Texas my favorite place.

Already missing home.

Carli